Why Hudsonville Ice Cream thinks newest flavor will become a July 4th favorite

Summer Celebrations, Hudsonville Ice Creamâs newest summer flavor, may become a Fourth of July favorite thanks to its patriotic color scheme.Courtesy photo

HOLLAND, MI -- Hudsonville Ice Cream is betting that its Summer Celebration flavor will become a Fourth of July favorite thanks to its patriotic color scheme.

The ice cream was inspired by the parties and time people traditionally spend with their families between Memorial Day and Labor Day, specifically around Independence Day, said Caryn Beatty, from Hudsonville Ice Cream.

"We wanted something bright and fun for the summertime," Beatty said.

The red, white and blue hues come in the form of blended swirls of creamy vanilla ice cream, raspberry and blueberry sherbets. Blending the vibrant red and blue streaks with Michigan berries gives the sweet treat the taste of summer, said Ray Sierengowski, a chef and food scientist.

“It was one of those things that people don’t think of that being a flavor palette,” said Sierengowski. “There’s real art and science to blending flavors like this.”

Sierengowski, who served in a similar role at Meijer Inc., and helped develop its store-branded itmes, joined the Holland-based ice cream creamery nine months ago. He is also the culinary force behind two of Hudsonville’s four summer seasonal flavors that include a new formulation of Strawberry Shortcake and newly introduced Grand Hotel Pecan Ball

Inspired by a popular dessert of Mackinac Island’s iconic dessert, the ice cream combines the hotel's fudge swirls and roasted pecans with the Holland company's original vanilla ice cream.

Turning a beloved summer dessert like Strawberry Shortcake hinged on perfecting a shortcake recipe that would retain its texture and taste in a swirl of ice cream took lots of trial and error, he said.

Rounding the four seasonal flavors is Tiger Traxx. This three-year partnership with the Detroit Tigers is not only popular at Comerica Park, where the professional baseball team plays, but a seasonal favorite at stores across the state.

The team’s namesake sweet treat is a swirl of fudge swirl and orange chocolate-covered pretzel balls in vanilla ice cream.

Sierengowski now is experimenting with how to bring the flavor of Michigan wines, paired with fruit, into the ice cream realm for a potential premium series release.

“It’s something new and exciting that I think a lot of people will enjoy,” Sierengowski said.